Toy building block



. Jan. .117, 1928..

1,656,199 H.A E. HODGSON v TOY BUILDING BLOCK Filed June 11 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l l/V ENTUH A TTOHWEY Jan. 17, 1928.

H. E. HODGSON Toy BUILDING BLooK Filed June l1 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTOR/VEY remate Jen. `i7, ieee.' i 1,656,199

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Application led June 11, 1924. Serial No. 719,294.

It is a regrettable fact that many of the In the accompanying drawings, forming 50 `great presentfday multiplication of toys for part hereof: children appeal to the merely inquisitive and Fig. l is a perspective view of the toy, destructive senses, and dull rather than satboxed; e

5 isfy or stimulate the creative and imagina- Fig. 2 is aperspective view of the unitltive side of child nature. This is quite gensize block which I preferably employ; 55 erally recognized to be true, yet the output Fig. 3 is a perspective of a double-length of devices for juvenile use constantly inblock; y creases, while there are comparatively few Fig. LL is a perspective of a half-size brick l additions to the small group of manufacor bat;

tui-ed playthings which really contribute to Fig. is a perspective of a square block or 60 wholesome and natural. development and tile, all of these blocks being preferably of afford a satisfying form of amusement. In lequal thickness, and tbe tile being the square this group building,l blocks form one of the of the length of the unit-size block;

oldest and most elementary forms of games, Fig. 6 a perspective view of a stick of and their appeal to children is universal. the plastic; Their possibilities are, however, restricted, Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a cardboard because the blocks willnot stay together in reinforcement strip that may be included in structures unless they are supported `directly various sizes in the set;

20 on top of each other, and the structures can Fig. 8 is a perspective view *showing two not be moved about. This permits the child of the unit-size bricks united by the bond to exercise bis ingenuity only partially, and face to face; the limitation upon what he can conceive Fig'. 9 is a similar view showing the bricks and would like to do is often keenly disapstuck together end to end; and

25 pointing` and causes ambitious children to Fig. 10 is a` perspective view of a toy house abandon a` game in which there is so little structure built from the blocks and the bond. scope for their faculties. For the purpose of the` invention the It is my purpose to give the Game of buildblocks should be quite small and light, of ing blocks the range that children naturally Wood, fiber or light composition. By way of 30 desire and which. will make it a complete illustration, dimensions of about an inch and entertainment and occupation. I have cona quarter by eleven-sixteenths by threeceived a plan of puttingr these blocks toeighths are suitable for the unit-size block gether by a nieans representing n'iortai.' but or brick, and the others in proportion. The of different properties from mortar,cement, few different forms shown have been cliosen :i5 glue, putty, or the like. This means is, speas affording considerable scope for the ciiically, a non-hardening, adherent but not building olvierations at as little manufactur- .sticky plastic, that is to say, one in which ing expense as possible. The forms may,

cohesion is greater than adhesion, which however, be somewhat varied, and others will hold the blocks together, and which can may be. added. There may be special ydornis be parted therefrom cleanly whenthestrucfor doors, windows, arches, etc., and glass tures are taken down. I do not limit myself pieces of congruous shape may be used for to the particular composition of the plastic glazed openings.

bond. Materials suitable for the purpose are A set of the blocks, marked 1, l, l", 1, are

available in the form of re-usable plastics shown in Fig. 1 packed in a box 2, which for modeling, which are on the market. also contains a compartment for one or two While these products are familiar I believe sticks 3 of the plastic. The plastic bond in 95 that I am the first to discover their appli-` Figs. 8. 9 and 10 is marked 3a.

' cabilityy in connection with toy building Cardboard reinforcements or beams, such blocks or bricks for construetional purposes. as shown at 4. in Figs. 7 and 10, may be pro- BuildingI models composed oit building blocks and u non-hardening adherent plastic in which cohesion is greater than adhesion adapted to hold the blocks together und to be parted cleanly therefrom when the Structures are taken apart.

HARRIETTE ENSLEY HODGSON. 

